Yolanda Barker on Muck Rack

Yolanda Barker

(She/Her)
Ashford, Kent County, UK, London
As seen in: Facebook, Medium, BBC, Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror, Metro (UK), Substack, Birmingham Mail, ITV News Meridian, PressReader and
Covers:  Disability, positivity, family, health, wellbeing, planning, local planning, new housing, environment, accessibility, diversity, benefits, welfare system, MS, neurodiversity, home, life, mental health
Doesn't Cover: fishing, hunting and rock climbing.
NCTJ trained freelance journalist | MS & Disability Advocate | Academy for disabled journalists alumini | Speaker | Available to talk as panel member.

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Yolanda Barker’s Biography

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I am a dedicated journalist with just over 50 years of life experience bringing a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to my work.
Born in Surrey, I now live in Kent, I have raised my family here for almost 30 years. My journey as a journalist has been shaped by my commitment to ensuring the voices of disabled people are heard and their stories are told with honesty and integrity.

Over the years, my work has been featured in numerous publications including Metro, Take a Break magazin…

Yolanda Barker’s Journalist Portfolio

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Fairness. Dignity. Respect. Fix PIP now.

Fairness. Dignity. Respect. Fix PIP now.

People with MS are being failed by an unfair PIP process. We know what needs to change. Sign our petition urg…

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What 80 comments taught me about what people actually need

What 80 comments taught me about what people actually need

A nomination I didn't expect and the patterns I couldn't ignore.

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Left With Dry Taps

Left With Dry Taps

42,000 residents across Kent and Sussex left without running water as South East Water faces fresh scrutiny.

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Day 3: South East Water warns towns and villages may be without supply until late Tuesday

Day 3: South East Water warns towns and villages may be without supply until late Tuesday

Thousands of residents across Kent and Sussex are entering a third day without running water, as South East W…

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"We couldn't just sit at home": Couple help villagers hit by water outage

"We couldn't just sit at home": Couple help villagers hit by water outage

A family-run builders' merchant in Harrietsham became an unlikely lifeline when taps ran dry across Kent and …

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Left With Dry Taps

Left With Dry Taps

42,000 residents across Kent and Sussex left without running water as South East Water faces fresh scrutiny.

View article →

Articles

Volunteering: The best thing I accidently said YES to!

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By Yolanda Barker
| Substack
Drumming at Singleton WI Photo: Yolanda Barker As Volunteer Week 2026 draws to a close, I would like to share the article I wrote for Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council Singleton WI is full of women at every stage of life: mums rushing in after putting kids to bed, women juggling work and family, newly retired women rediscovering their time, and older ladies with more va-va-voom than most twenty-somethings.
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I Didn't Expect to be Filming Myself on a Loo in a Car Showroom BUT...

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By Yolanda Barker
| Substack
I recently visited the Ford showroom in Maidstone. The staff were absolutely lovely - genuinely helpful, full of information about the cars, and the kind of people who make you feel welcome the moment you walk in. This isn’t a story about them. It’s a story about their accessible toilet. If you’ve watched the video above, you’ll already have seen the problem. I’m literally sitting on the loo, demonstrating how close the toilet is to the wall and how the grab bar ends up wedged under my ribs.
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Motability's Digital Tag: Why Disabled People are Worried

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By Yolanda Barker
| Substack
DriveSmart is being rolled out across Motability vehicles, but many disabled drivers are reporting something far more troubling than “cheaper insurance.” The system tracks movement, driving behaviour and phone activity in ways that feel uncomfortably close to a digital tag. In this video, I break down what’s happening, why people are worried, and what this means for independence, privacy and daily life.
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See all 39 licensed articles (40 Total)

Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

Showing my age! I learnt to type properly on a very, very old typewriter at school. It was massive. I could barely reach the a and ; keys.

How is social media changing news?

Social Media makes events current. A story is out there before any fact is known. It is all based on speculation but isn't it useful.

What does it mean to be a journalist?

Using your skillset to shari stories that will make someone think differently, understand something a little more or question it further.
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